Tainted Mountain Read Online Free Page B

just wanted to say thanks.”
    He put a finger to his forehead as if tipping his hat, a boyish grin spreading across his face. “Good to meet you, Nora.” He strode out of the parking lot and around the corner.
    Nora switched her attention to Scott, eager to feel the safety of his arms around her. He’d come for her. Late, sure, but he was here now.
    â€œHave you had enough, yet?” Scott’s eyes flashed with anger.
    She’d expected support, and his reaction smacked her upside the head. Once again, her struggle to please him had backfired. She masked her hurt. “As a matter of fact, I have. Enough of struggling to make Kachina Ski earn a living in a drought. Enough of religious freaks and rabid environmentalists and Crazy Horse wannabees sticking their nose in my business. And I’ve really had enough of you acting like I’m the devil.”
    His face didn’t soften. “Then walk away from it.”
    Scott might as well suggest they buy a ranch on Mars. “I didn’t even want to run a ski area! But we’re in it now. We can’t just give up.”
    He shrugged and looked away from her. “I thought it would be fun.”
    When she’d been offered Kachina Ski from her late stepfather, she wanted to turn it down. But Scott had practically begged her, promising they’d do it together. But the picture he painted of growing a fruitful business together and raising children free to roam the mountain had faded with the drought. “When we have reliable snow, it will be fun,” she said.
    He frowned. “We have no right to alter the natural environment for profit.”
    What? Mutiny now they’d just won their victory? He had been on board with the fight for snow making in the beginning. She opened her mouth to remind him of the drought-relief snow making would bring to the mountain. But she simply closed her mouth again. It didn’t matter what the issue, he rarely agreed with her anymore. Never laughed with her. She couldn’t remember the last time he even kissed her.
    The stress of the ski business killed their hope. The drought not only sucked the land dry, but her energy and resources as well. If she could get a good year or two, pay down the debt, ease up the pressure on them both, they’d be okay together, she had felt sure of it. Maybe they’d slow down enough to have a baby. Making snow meant making money, and to Nora, that meant saving their marriage as well.
    â€œScott, when we started this fight you were all for doing whatever it took to keep Kachina Ski alive. What’s changed?”
    His eyes darted away from hers. “Things.”
    Controlling her impatience was like trying to keep a tree upright after the lumberjack had yelled “Timber!” “You said you thought snow making was a good idea.”
    Scott shook his head. “That was before.”
    â€œBefore what ?”
    He shifted from one foot to another. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
    Sudden tears burned. More secrets, when he used to tell her everything. She remembered sitting in a mountain meadow, their packs discarded under a tree. They held hands and Scott told her how he never loved anyone as he loved her. When he laid her down with her back against their mountain and the sun in her eyes, it felt to her that their souls joined in their lovemaking. Now she struggled to get him to talk about his day.
    â€œWhen have I ever not believed you?” she said.
    â€œSince you stopped believing in anything except cash flows and lines of credit.”
    A nice one-two to the heart. “Kachina Ski won’t run itself, so someone has to think about the business.”
    He glared at her. “See what I mean?”
    Idiot. She always said the wrong thing. “I’m sorry. What changed your mind about snow making?”
    â€œYou won’t get it.”
    â€œI want to get it. Tell me.”
    He leaned against the